Bellevue has recently been identified as the most expensive city to rent in the Seattle metro area, according to the latest Zumper Seattle Metro Report. This month, the median rent for one-bedroom units in Bellevue is $2,530, showing a decrease of 2.7% from previous months. Meanwhile, the median rent for two-bedroom units stands at $3,200, showing a slight decline of 0.9%.
Comparing these figures to the previous report published in June 2024, there has been a noticeable shift in the rental market. In June, the median rent for one-bedroom units was $2,480, which represented a 6% increase from earlier months. The two-bedroom units at that time had a median rent of $2,970, up by 3.1%. For comparison, the average rent for a one-bedroom in Washington state is $1,573, which shows a big gap from Bellevue’s prices.
For context, the state of Washington’s one-bedroom median rent is $1,573 as of last month, illustrating a significant gap compared to Bellevue’s rental prices.
In addition to Bellevue, the report also highlights other cities within the metro area. Redmond follows Bellevue as the second most expensive city for rentals, with one-bedroom units priced at $2,310. Kirkland ranks third with one-bedroom rentals averaging $2,250.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Wenatchee is identified as the most affordable city for renters, with one-bedroom units priced at $1,270. Lakewood and Tacoma follow, with median rents of $1,350 and $1,420.
The Zumper Seattle Metro Report is based on active listings analyzed from last month, aggregating data by city to determine median asking rents.
